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TextToChat.com- Why MLM and Social Networking is a Tough Sell

by Travis Campbell   View Comments

Yesterday I got wall spam in Facebook.  You know, a ‘friend’ commented on my status, and left a link to a really cool product I should check out.  Of course that goes out through all the feeds, he’s hoping to get a click or two (from my friends), and maybe even make a sale.  In this post I’ll share why this sort of thing should not be a part of your social marketing strategy.

NOTE: I have been in several MLM (aka Network Marketing or Multi-Level Marketing) organizations, and I am in at least 1 right now.  I have been on both ends of the MLM opportunity many times.  I too was sold on the business model before knowing the product.

TextToChat.com- Why MLM and Social Networking is a Tough Sell

Not a bad guy really.  I removed his spam, and then send him a personal private message and he took it like a champ.  My message and his reply is below.

Truth is, I got quite a few messages about this very product most of yesterday and into today via Facebook email.

Why MLM Has and Always Will Be a Tough Sell

Perhaps you’ve had a similar experience, someone you haven’t heard of in a while calls and invites you for dinner.  Excited, they share with you a new business they recently got involved with and why they think you should join for a small fee, etc., and you can get started by listing 10 of your friends to share this great idea with!  All this before your first bite of food!  And when you dig deeper, turns out they don’t know much about the product after all.  An old friend, doesn’t seem as friendly as they used to…leaves you feeling uneasy.

Many (not all) MLM product are selling to one of our strongest human desires, personal freedom.  Freedom, they say, is only through financial independence.  For some, the business is the business model itself, not the product or service.  The problem is, human relationships are not built upon a financial transaction, it is built upon trust in someone, not in something that someone can provide to better either themselves, or me.

MLM… Still a Tough Sell with Social Networking

For the same reason it has always been.  When you believe someone has reached out to you in friendship, only to realize later that their whole objective is to utilize you as a part of a business relationship, you are left feeling…well, not nice.  I think it can work if one leads with business not with friendship, but even so, you have to deal with all the hurdles and social stigmas of MLM.

More Evidence MLM is Difficult in Social Networking

I clicked the links and visited the webpage of this great product (texttochat.com), and it looked interesting, yesterday.  But today, it has been banned by Facebook.  Here is there plea for help from users and affiliates:

Yes, “MLM is legal and MLM works…” but should you engage in MLM?  Nobody will argue that it is a compelling business model on paper, but is it a good fit for social networking?

Time for discussion: What is your take on wall spam, texttochat.com, or MLM in social networking?

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Filed Under: Social
Tagged: business model, facebook apps, network marketing, social marketing strategy, social networking

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    Comments

    • Not so good approach though was the reason of a reminder "not to spam". Unsolicited business info is not healthy unless otherwise you know whom you are sending or telling your proposal to.
    • To take this a step further, I think we all dislike getting "sold" something by anyone who isn't taking our needs into consideration. It's not just limited to MLM. The business model isn't the issue by itself. Business models don't invite us to meet and jump down our throat with the pitch. Poorly trained sales people do. And they do it in virtually every industry. The truth is, we all work for someone. At least until we no longer provide value. So the whole pyramid thing that people knock regarding MLM is a reality of business. Ask my wife how her boss, and his, and her boss, and so on get paid in her company. So let's be truthful about the fact that it's the sales people who take a stupid, lazy and inconsiderate approach to selling anyone anything. No wonder sales by itself has such a bad name. I guess we can thank Tommy Hopkins or some other sales guru for teaching people the Ben Franklin close and all the other approaches most of us dislike. Just my two cents.
    • Mike-

      I hope your downline found value in this post.

      Isn't that the beauty of this thing everyone calls Web 2.0? You get to choose on your terms how you want to receive communications. It is the method of your choosing. The traditional sense of I tell you on my terms what I have to say (come to my website, or watch the commercials with your favorite TV program) is fading.

      I think MLMers get this concept (they are all over Facebook), however consumers (and potential downlines) are now able to leverage Web 2.0 to tune out those they don't want to hear from. When MLMers figure that out, and make adjustments, I think they will be way more effective in their efforts.

      <abbr>Travis Campbell’s last blog post..2 Internet Marketing Acronyms You Must Know</abbr>
    • I was getting those spam messages as well and hated it. I am currently in a network marketing company and very happy, but I do have to agree with the previous comments that some organizations train their downline to market boiler room style. Consumers hate advertising (hence "do not call list" and fast forward button on DVR!). Modern marketing is and should be based upon permission. If I didn't ask for your product or service, I probably will not take a look at it especially if you come pounding on my door. In my opinion, the network marketing industry is not to blame, rather it's the training system and the associates who are to blame. Thank you for this post btw. I sent it to my entire downline.
    • Micah
      I know I personally hate getting blasted from all sides by marketing campaigns. I don't have a lot of experience in this area from a business side, but from a consumer standpoint I can't stand it. There really isn't much of a chance that whatever is being shoved on me through wall spam is something I'm going to want. Chances are, if I didn't go looking for it I'm probably not going to buy it. I am curious though, are there really enough people out there the opposite of me that allow this stuff to really work!?!
    • Norine
      I was hoping Facebook would ban ChatToText. I was getting invites all over the frick'n place. Had they not, I probably would have had my inbox filled with the invites.

      I've been a member of MLM's myself. To me, there's something very "vulcheristic" (I know, it's not a word. Or is it?) about MLM's. I actually loathe the MLM model and stay as far as possible away from companies that provide this business model, and anyone who tries to sway me towards them. There are so many avenues of making money. MLM is only one way. I've ventured into the other avenues and like what I'm experiencing.

      NLJ
    • MLM – 3 letters that make my blood run cold. Actually, I have been very successful in several MLM plans, but I got tired of taking advantage of friends and family, and just walked away from a substantial down line. Oddly enough, now that I am no longer active in MLM I seem to have more friends – even more family members!
      On second thought, maybe it isn’t so odd after all.
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    About me

    Hi, my name is Travis Campbell, I operate this site. I'm here to share what I can from my lessons marketing online. With sizeable investments in continuing education, various software products and services, I have had some winners, and some losers. One way I can extend what I've learned is by writing about it, here... and helping you along the way.

    - Travis Campbell

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